In the initial stages, the focus on Covid-19 response was on prevention of community transmissions. However, with the continued spread and increase in the numbers of new cases, Member States in the region have started adopting country-specific prevention frameworks to limit the spread of the virus and support businesses. COVID-19 in COMESA_Situational Update #24
Tuesday 4th August 2020: Ministers responsible for agriculture, environment and natural resources have adopted the COMESA COVID-19 Food Security Response Plan to help the region deal with the impacts of Covid-19 on regional food security. In their 7th joint meeting conducted virtually, the Ministers expressed concern about the unfolding effects of Covid-19 on food and…
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Tuesday, August 4, 2020: The sugar industry in Kenya has steadily expanded over the years, currently with 15 white sugar mills being opened and several jaggery (healthy sugar alternative) operators in place. This development has been attributed to the safeguard granted by COMESA since 2002 when the government sought protection from importation of cheap sugar…
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Sustainable agriculture is an essential factor to advancing trade within COMESA and the rest of Africa. Over the last two decades, Africa has remained a net food importer, with agricultural accounting for about 60% of Africa’s total trade in agricultural products. Furthermore, agricultural product imports account for around 13% of total imports. The COVID-19 pandemic…
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Consolidated list of measures that Member States have put in place in response to COVID-19. Measures in COMESA MS in Response to Covid-19, Vol 16
Lusaka, Tuesday, July 28, 2020: The COMESA Secretariat has developed a draft COVID-19 Regional Food and Nutrition Security Response Plan to improve agricultural productivity, enhance access to competitive markets and trade in agri-food commodities in the region. Implementation of the Plan is expected to create synergies and complement existing initiatives in the region and Member…
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Lusaka, Friday, 24 July 2020: Selected Permanent Secretaries (PSs) from the Zambian Government, their representatives and members of the civil society have been sensitized about the COMESA Early Warning System Vulnerability Assessments (COMWARN SVAs) strategy and the Continental Structural Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment (CSVRA). The one-day session was conducted in Chisamba, 50 kilometers north of…
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COVID-19 in COMESA_Situational Update #22
Lusaka, July 17, 2020: COMESA has developed an online portal to be used by Member States to exchange information on availability of essential products within the region. This is in response to a directive issued by the COMESA Council of Ministers in May this year to develop the platform to support regional trade, during the…
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World Bank Approves $425 Million Towards Infrastructure Financing The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a total of US$425 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing to support infrastructure development in the Eastern and Southern Africa through the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and COMESA Secretariat. This funding falls under the Regional Infrastructure Financing…
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